15DEC23 | Orange to Lake Macquarie

Circumnavigation of Australia - Stage 99

Simulation Date/Time: Current date set to daylight.

Weather: Real World / Fair weather if real world is unsuitable for VFR operations.
If not using live weather, please be mindful of others who are using live weather and will be taking off and landing into the wind.

Distance: 144 nm

Est Flight Time: Approx 75 min

Aircraft: Cessna 172 or similar aircraft capable of 120 kias.

Altitude: Remain in Class G airspace as far as possible. See waypoint notes below.

Flight plan

File as: YORG YBTH KRMD WSFR YSMB YWVA YLMQ

GPS flight plan is available for FSX/P3D .pln, MFS2020 .pln, X-Plane .fms and Little Navmap.

Navigation: Pilots are encouraged to navigate visually. For those less familiar the GPS flight plan is the recommended method of navigation.

Communications

Australia uses CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) for radio comms at uncontrolled airfields. During an event, Pilots are requested to broadcast intentions on the published CTAF. Pilots should also be aware that it is a VATSIM CoC (Code of Conduct) requirement that all pilots at uncontrolled airfields should monitor UNICOM on 122.800. Pilots should ensure that at least one of their radios (COM 2 being the most likely) is tuned to receive UNICOM transmissions in addition to transmitting and receiving on the published CTAF.

Pilots also should read this post regarding the implications of using VATSIM UNICOM for CTAF. It provides some insight into potential pitfalls for the unwary when monitoring 122.80 in a CTAF environment.

Scenery

Due to the plethora of simulation platforms now being used, scenery is left to the discretion of each pilot.  Updated X-Plane scenery is available for Lake Macquarie (X-Plane 11 version and X-Plane 12 version).

Flight details

• ORANGE [YORG] Takeoff
  elev: 3112
  rwy: 11/29 asphalt
  rwy: 04/22 grass/clay
  CTAF: 119.0
  
  Not above 8500 ft to Lithgow
   
• BATHURST [YBTH] T&G - visual along the Mitchell Highway
  elev: 2435
  rwy: 08/26 17/35 asphalt
  CTAF: 127.35
  NDB: BTH 383
  
  Tune DME to Sydney DME (SY 112.1)
   
• LITHGOW overfly not above 8500 ft - visual along the Mitchell Highway
  
  Not above 2500 ft within 45 DME SY.
  
  Tune DME to Richmond TACAN (RIC 110.7)
  
  If Richmond TWR (135.5) is active, contact after passing Lithgow to request transit from Kurmond to Wisemans Ferry.
  If Richmond TWR is not active, use CTAF 135.5 to announce intentions to transit from Kurmond to Wisemans Ferry.
  
  Not above 1500 ft within 11 DME RIC or as directed by ATC.
   
• KURMOND [KRMD] overfly not above 1500 ft or as directed by ATC - visual along Bells Line of Road
   
• WISEMANS FERRY [WSMR] overfly not above 3500 ft -  H-044° D-18.2 nm
  
  Use CTAF 132.1 once outside Richmond Military CTR.
   
• MOUNT WHITE INTERCHANGE overfly not above 3500 ft - visual along the Hawkesbury River
   
• SOMERSBY [YSMB] T&G - visual along the Pacific Motorway
  elev: 830
  rwy: 17/35 dirt
  CTAF: 132.1
   
• WARNERVALE [YWVA] T&G - visual along the Pacific Motorway
  elev: 25
  rwy: 02/20 asphalt
  CTAF: 132.1
   
• MORRISET INTERCHANGE overfly not above 4500 ft - visual along the Pacific Motorway
   
• FISHERY POINT overfly not above 4500 ft - visual along Fishery Point Road
   
• LAKE MACQUARIE [YLMQ] Land - visual across Lake Macquarie
  elev: 5
  rwy: 07/25 asphalt
  CTAF: 132.1

Chart